Floor Drawer. In a cramped kitchen, every inch counts. Diamond Logix 3-inch-high Toekick Drawers provide extra storage in space that would otherwise be unused. They can be ordered as an option on various 24-, 30-, and 36-inch base cabinets. The drawer adds $200 to the cost of a 24-inch maple cabinet (shown) for a total of $515. Diamond Cabinets, 812/482-2527, diamondcabinets.com.
Indoor Exhaust. For cooktop installations that can’t be vented to the outdoors — such as with some island countertops — Jenn-Air offers a self-contained exhaust system. The JDA7000WX Ductless Downdraft Kit mounts beneath the cooktop and terminates in the cabinet space below. The easily accessible filter box snaps open for cleaning and filter replacement. The unit is a $199 option on six new Jenn-Air gas or electric cooktops. (It cannot be used with existing models.) Jenn-Air, 800/536-6247, jennair.com.
Garage Storage. The Gladiator GarageWorks system makes it easier to provide sturdy, versatile garage storage. The 1-foot-high by 8-foot-long GAWP082PMY GearWall panels mount to the walls and receive the company’s cabinets, bins, shelves, and hooks. A pair of panels costs $80; a 24-inch single-door GAWG241DRG cabinet costs $143; and a 30-inch double-door GAWG302DRG top cabinet costs $190. Gladiator, 866/342-4089, gladiatorgw.com.
Trimmable Truss. Universal Forest Products says its Open Joist has a higher strength-to-cost ratio than any other engineered floor joist and can even beat the cost of lumber joists in some designs. Plus, the open web truss construction gives mechanical subs better access, says the company. Joists come in four depths; lengths up to 30 feet can be ordered in 1-foot increments and trimmed up to 5 1/2 inches per side. The 11 7/8-inch depth costs $1.50 per linear foot. Universal Forest Products, 800/598-9663, openjoist.com.
Discreet Alarm. The cover on Kidde’s low-profile Silhouette smoke detector protrudes less than an inch from the mounting surface. The device fits into a standard ceiling electrical box and has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery designed to last as long as the detector. It costs $55; a similar wall-mounted carbon monoxide detector is also available, for about $75. Kidde, 800/880-6788, kidde.com.
Bendable Cement Board. Curved tile walls and ceilings may need more flex than standard 1/2-inch cement board can provide. PermaBase Flex can be bent 90 degrees with a radius as tight as 6 inches — and there’s no need for scoring or soaking. Since the board’s fiber reinforcement runs in one direction, the 1/2-inch-thick material bends uniformly, says the maker. It’s suitable indoors and out and comes in 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets for $45. National Gypsum, 800/628-4662, permabase.com.
Lighter MDF. Whereas standard 3/4-inch-thick MDF weighs 90 pounds or more per sheet, Arauco’s Trupan Light weighs 76 pounds and Trupan Ultralight only 64. Both panels come in a range of thicknesses. Four-foot-by- 8-foot sheets just under 3/4-inch thick cost $29 apiece for the Light product and $32 for the Ultralight. Arauco, 770/350-1659, arauco.cl/usa.
High-E Beams. LP’s newest SolidStart LSL engineered lumber has a stiffness rating of 1.75E — the highest in the industry, says the maker. That means you can use an LSL beam or header for some spans that previously required a more expensive LVL. The products come in common dimensions in lengths of up to 64 feet; a 1 3/4-inch-by-11 1/4-inch LSL costs about $3.50 per linear foot. Louisiana-Pacific, 888/820-0325, lpcorp.com.
